The Sunday herald., 1887-01-30
THE TRACTION RAILROAD BILL
Denounced as Job by the New York
aud PhiladeIp pbia Press.

The papers OF new lOfk ana Pnlalelphia, where
the bill for the Washington Cable Road originated,
al! say that the bill rushed through the House day
or two ago IL jon, and hint that on inves CATION OF
prlng down some big game The Philadelphia Press
OF Saturday morning says: "The bill goes 10 the
Senate rank with the navors OF some undiscovered
Job" The Press hints at coming disclosures, and
adds: "The ineorporators are supposed not TO repre-
sent the actual owners, and the charter is intended
to make money before the road IL built. The bill IL
unfortunate In its big lobby II 1t Is sraight-out
business proposition" All the Philadelphia papers
OF The Cable Road OF that city and the Intellectual at
lempts to make ii comply with It's charter. The New
York Times says edtOrlally:
road scheme by the House yesterday Will remind
many persons OF the haDts OF another conspicuous
legislative body, the New York Board OF Aldermen.
The Washington Cable Company, which Ia said to
represent those industrious persons, Wdener and
aud Elkins OF Philadelphia, has won the affection
Of "A majority of the House. 1t mas used large,
told, and persistent lobby for some months, and ihe
lobbyists appear 10 have earned their pay. The
company proposes TO occupy thirty miles Of streets
aud Intends 10 get this valuable franchise for moth
ing. This feature OF the scheme deseryes atien.
iOn outside OF Washington for the nation pay half
the expenses of the city and the assembled Repre-.
sentaiyes OF the nation are 10 say whether any pay
Of The House Ia 10 be Judged Sy e exhibition maSe
yesterday 1t Is apparent that the lobby mas the
| hight. No action could point more plainly TO hid.
den and abhorrent forces than a hlgh-handed sup
| preston OF debate upon measure which members
moi in the ring had not been allowed to read
| 10 see."
Elsewhere the Tunes says:
"For tins oll which proposes 10 give to a syn
| dcaie OF Washington names, probably covering
| q corrupt gang OF Philadelphia franchise grab
| bers, about all Of the desirable streets In the
capital not occupied boy railroads for tue purpose
Of constructing some thirty miles Of track upon
! them, the assistance ni an industrious lobby has
| been employed for mOnths. An interest altogether
| extraordinary has been manifested IN the scheme
| by all The lobbying cX'nembers and all The fran
| chise hunters IN this city, There IL talk about
| 'bOodle aud 'blOcks Of stock, ana other forms
| Of persuasion, but no one has been rash enough,
| II fascinated by promises OF a share OF the prop
eriy of tlls rlch grab To suggest That his support
was given ON any such ground. II came from
| private printing Onice, c0nld not lie mad by
| the opponents Of the franchise, ana the House
was practically Informed that 1t was TO he
| taken straight and from a tin cup at
| that. Wlal was this little measure, and
| IN whose name was the franchise to be
crealed7 The route laid out for the railroad spreads
al over the city from east to west. north and south
| up aud down through every street that appears 10
be likely TO he needed for any other railroad cor.
pOrallOn that might he Inclined 10 pay for a fran
chise. II pays nothing for the privilege II seeks OF
occupying the public streets. There are supposed
10 he 'lnillions m n aud that notion may be enter
tanned by persons gu, Of Congress who notice how
zeaousy II was supported"
The New YORK tribune Hays that behind the bill
are asserted TO DC men whose IN Philadelphia
slreei-Tallway matters have won a large share o
public disappfDyal, aud several men VINO were N
lerosied IN the Broadway steal. The New YoIl
UtIW1 liah a tlulllar opinion.